For more than a decade, the Affordable Care Act has been the Republican Party’s nemesis. … But the coronavirus pandemic’s fast-moving destruction has pushed Republicans to rely on Barack Obama’s signature law to respond to the crisis, even taking action to strengthen it. …
Our research shows that this about-face cannot be explained by the pandemic alone. The party’s rank-and-file — and many other Americans — have shifted to supporting the ACA and expanded government payments for health care. The pandemic is giving Republicans cover to follow changing public opinion. CONT.
Lawrence R. Jacobs (U. of Minn.), Suzanne Mettler (Cornell) & Ling Zhu (U. of Houston), Monkey Cage